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Consciously Crafted Chemistry: Creating Emerald® Symmetry™
Consciously Crafted Chemistry: Creating Emerald® Symmetry™
In luxury interiors, it’s not only color selection that carries weight, but also the curated experience, longevity, finish, and increasingly, environmental responsibility of the design process.
Emerald® Symmetry™ was developed with that exact expectation in mind. This new premium paint from Sherwin-Williams, containing a minimum of 22% plant-based carbon content varying by sheen, brings together advanced chemistry in formulation and sustainability, and unrivaled performance. This creates a true zero-VOC paint that also delivers elite coverage, color richness, and durability. We sat down with some of the brilliant minds who dreamed up this new formula to talk about what makes Emerald Symmetry such a groundbreaking product.
As Sherwin-Williams Director of Color Marketing Sue Wadden explains, the right coating helps designers deliver a more complete experience to their clients. “Designers are always looking for products that elevate both the aesthetic and the experience they deliver to clients, and that is really where Emerald Symmetry shines. It gives designers a finish that looks incredibly refined, the kind of smooth, elevated surface you notice the moment you walk into a room, and it performs at a level that makes specifying it feel easy and dependable.”
Sustainability Balanced with Beauty
Emerald Symmetry was developed after extensive market research revealed a clear desire for products with a reduced environmental footprint.
“Premium performance that incorporated improved sustainability was always the guiding north star with Emerald Symmetry,” says Sarah Kelley, Product Innovation Senior Manager for Sherwin-Williams.
Rather than retrofitting an existing solvent-based formula, the team reengineered the chemistry at its core. The innovation lies in the monomers, the foundational building blocks of the paint.
In this case, plant-based does not mean simplified or stripped down. It means durability. The backbone of the coating is derived from renewable organic materials, feeding into a polymer system that delivers the coverage and high performance professionals expect.
Sue notes that this balance is increasingly important in luxury residential and hospitality projects where clients are looking for materials that support both design integrity and environmental awareness. “With Emerald Symmetry’s advanced plant-based innovation and reduced carbon footprint, designers can deliver both high performance and a thoughtful materials story, which is becoming a real differentiator at the premium level.”
This translates into a specification that aligns with sustainability goals while maintaining the integrity and durability of a luxury finish.
Performance That Meets High-End Expectations
Emerald Symmetry was engineered toperform at the highest level, from application through long-term durability.
That level of performance is particularly important in spaces where surfaces must maintain their appearance over time. As Sue explains, “High-end spaces demand a certain level of polish, that flawless, luxurious finish that feels considered and intentional, and Symmetry delivers that. It sits at the very top of our Emerald portfolio, and the technology behind it was engineered to create outstanding hide, long-lasting durability, and an ultra-premium finish that elevates the entire space.”
During development, real-world testing confirmed the formulation’s resilience. One standout moment came during washability testing.
“Throughout the product development cycle we did a lot of tests, both lab and practical. The practical washability test was very eye-opening for our team. When the lipstick stain came right off, we were like, ‘wow, we’ve really got something unique here!’” Sarah says.
Sue adds that this product meets the demands for durability and indoor air quality that are also critical considerations in high-end spaces. “In hospitality especially, surfaces need to withstand cleaning, wear, and high traffic, and Emerald Symmetry maintains its finish even under that kind of pressure. The zero-VOC formulation is GREENGARD Gold certified for low chemical emissions and is a product that contributes to healthier indoor air quality, which is an important consideration in hotels, restaurants, and wellness spaces where guests spend meaningful time.”
Limitless Color Options
Emerald Symmetry offers full access to Sherwin-Williams color offerings, with a “color richness that is unmatched.” The coating supports the vision with creative flexibility, not the other way around.
From a color perspective, Sue says the formulation was designed specifically to support the way designers work. “Color is where designers immediately feel the magic of Emerald Symmetry. The formulation is designed to create exceptional depth and richness, so every hue, like any of your favorites from the Designer Color Collection, shows up exactly the way it was envisioned – balanced, dimensional, and really saturated in a refined way.”
The depth, vibrancy, and smooth finish of the paint allow color to read as intended, enhancing architectural detail and elevating the overall atmosphere of a space.
That flexibility also extends to matching capabilities. “Because Emerald Symmetry is not constrained by a curated palette, designers get complete freedom,” Sue says. “It can be tinted to every Sherwin-Williams color and we can match essentially anything, any brand, any reference photo, any custom chip, even our highest chroma hues and our brightest, most challenging whites.”
For designers, that level of control can be critical to maintaining the integrity of a concept. “You do not have to compromise your palette or adjust an idea because a premium product cannot hit the shade,” Sue adds. “Emerald Symmetry will get you there with accuracy, with richness, and with the kind of finish that elevates the color even further.”
Designed for Confident Specification
Emerald Symmetry represents a shift in what can be expected from a premium coating. It combines advanced plant-based technology, exceptional coverage, full-spectrum color access, and durability into one refined specification. Emerald Symmetry allows performance and sustainability to coexist at the highest level. For luxury interiors that demand both, it offers a new standard. As Sarah says, “Seeing is believing. Once people try Emerald Symmetry, they can’t stop talking about how much they love it and ask ‘When can I get more?’”
To explore all the hues available in this special formulation, register for a Design+ account to order complimentary samples today.
